Spotlight on diabetes depression link

The Menzies Institute in Hobart is to research the link between diabetes and depression in Tasmania.

The Institute says people with diabetes have higher rates of depression, potentially increasing their health care bills by 70 per cent.

It says up to one in four individuals with type two diabetes is likely to have major depression, with one in two showing milder symptoms.

Research Fellow Sue Pearson says Tasmania has the highest rate of diabetes in Australia and it is vital to make sure patients are being properly diagnosed and treated.

"We need that information, we need to find out the extent and quantify how many people have depression and we need to find out how they quantify that and if it's being managed," Ms Pearson said.

"We don't have any information as to whether they are receiving the right sorts of treatments and therapies or how that might be impacting on the way they manage their diabetes in terms of their outcomes."

"So what we're hoping to do is use that information as evidence that this is potentially a serious problem."